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Original poster

Which shops cater to 'invisible women'?

54 replies

LanaorAna1 · 29/07/2016 22:20

I rather like White Stuff, but it has been royally slated here as an Invisible Mum Army styleless supplier of shapeless greige.

Are there any others? Which makes get your goat?

I'm horrified to find I can't condemn anything, except M&S, and then only some of it, so my fear is that I'm not fussy enough. Put me right, ladies, please do.

OP posts:
Pestilence13610 · 31/07/2016 09:00

I used to really like Fat Face, this year it seemed a bit viscoseish.

Ememem84 · 31/07/2016 09:04

I like joules.but I only buy in the sale. They have really good sales!

White stuff is imo good for basics (tshirts etc).

Destinysdaughter · 31/07/2016 09:05

Years ago Wallis were quite good. They're rubbish now. What's happened to the clothing industry? I mainly shop in charity shops as I can never find anything I like in the shops!

puglife15 · 31/07/2016 09:05

The service in Zara is SHIT

About 10% of the clothes are nice though. They do (or used to) some nice silk stuff.

Occasionally Warehouse and Topshop have nice bits too.

The rest of the lower end high St bar H&M leaves me cold.

LittleOyster · 31/07/2016 09:30

I don't understand the M&S hate, either Jace. When I pop in to buy food, I often spot things that I'd definitely like to wear. Have even been drawn into the Per Una area a few times... Blush Shock BTW, I am 33 and most of my clothes are from places like Topshop, H&M, Asos.

dailymaillazyjournos · 31/07/2016 09:31

I'm in the 'invisible' age range at 55. Fat Face and white Stuff look drab, grungy and 'tired' somehow.

Joules looks like toddler clothes to me - loads of bright stripes and primary colours contrasting on sleeves and collars. I really don't get who their stuff is aimed at.

Next has looked rather Per Una-ish for years now imo. Their kids and baby ranges are full of great designs but the women's stuff looks very M&S to me. Dorothy Perkins I can't remember the last thing I bought there. I walk round and can't see anything I fancy.

I mainly get clothes in White Company and Cos (sales), Massimo Dutti (online in sales), Occasional bits in Zara, Topshop, French connection and Warehouse. I'm finding it harder and harder to find stylish, simple, flattering stuff these days.

PennyAsset · 31/07/2016 09:34

And what's all this 'invisible woman' crap about?
Women really can be their own worst enemies.

Beanzmeanzcoffee · 31/07/2016 09:35

I quite like my joules top for its powers of invisibility. I've recently lost 3 stone and only now for the first time in years do I fit in joules clothes. I have a couple of tops I wear with my Boden jeans and a long cards and I love the sense of having bought clothes from a normal shop. Being plus size means I've had to put so much effort into looking good I'm never invisible.

ZansForCans · 31/07/2016 09:39

Agree there is no shop I'd write off entirely, you could always find a gem. I have a couple of things from White Stuff that I love, especially PJs. But I do avoid the shapeless tunics with sludgy prints as they don't suit me and it does seem to be a bit of a uniform. Likewise Boden - you can look a frumpy fright (and yes I did use that word!) or a uniformed mum in some of their stuff but you can also find some great bits.

Our HT dresses in Boden a lot (I love to spot what she's bought from the catalogue!) but she is brilliant at dressing for her shape and always chooses strong colourblock dresses or retro prints, not the garish stuff. She looks amazing and not invisible.

I just can't be arsed with M&S - I know I'd find some nice things but it's too big and complicated and there's too much stuff in synthetic fabrics. I'd need all day to sort through it. I have a few things from M&S but they are all charity shop or off ebay - easier to find!

ShatnersBassoon · 31/07/2016 09:41

I think the truly invisible people are those wearing things like fleece jumpers, walking sandals and other unisex outdoorsy clothing. Men and women. Those clothes are so lacking in style and personal taste that you just don't notice those people at all. Your Mountain Warehouse, North Face, Berghaus etc. I'm sure people don't actually like those clothes, they're just a practical uninvolving choice so some wear it like a uniform.

At least something from White Stuff or Fast Face with a pretty print, a nice fabric, an unusual colour - somebody might notice it.

lyraj · 31/07/2016 09:43

And what's all this 'invisible woman' crap about?
Women really can be their own worst enemies.

Oh yes.

And I think you can find something in all of those shops aimed at a slighter older demographic. White Stuff on the surface might be a sea of busy prints and A Line skirts but they sell good tights and quality active wear, and even, shock horror, some plain classic items. I think similar can be applied to most of these Boden -type shops.

Zara is like a 90s market stall sale though, I have to say Grin

ZansForCans · 31/07/2016 09:45

I think the "invisible woman" phrase does address a real thing but I'd defend any woman's or man's right to use their clothes/style to stand out more or less as she or he chooses. I really love design and prints and making my own clothes so I am not one for invisibility normally, but I have those days where I do want to be invisible and dress accordingly. Even frumpily. We all have a choice.

I like discussing this on MN and I think it's really interesting and a feminist issue. Women are often seen as trivial or air-headed for caring about clothes/appearance. Yet caring about design in architecture, furniture etc is fine - because it's not culturally associated with women. And, many men also care about appearance but aren't slated for it.

FenellaFerranti · 31/07/2016 09:46

Has no one mentioned Joe Browns yet?

lyraj · 31/07/2016 09:49

I didn't know Joe Browns was still going!

OhTheRoses · 31/07/2016 09:49

I'll wear what I like from where I like when I like. I also am conformist by nature. My apologies if I offend but the older I get, the less I care.

teaandcake789 · 31/07/2016 09:52

I don't see why it's automatically seen as a bad thing wanting to be invisible. We're not all extroverts who want to stand out from the crowd and have everybody around us swoon over our outfit choices. Some of us enjoy blending into the crowd. :-)

InfiniteCurve · 31/07/2016 09:53

ShatnersBassoon, I wear stuff like that,when I don't have to dress for work,because I like it and unisex outdoorsy stuff feels like me! Pretty prints on the other hand...not so much.
Each to her own.Realise this is not the point of the thread tho,sorry!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/07/2016 09:55

I think that the biggest problem with White Stuff and Fat Face is the colours, which are generally faded and rather drab looking. Even the 'bright' colours are generally muted.

I like black and grey, so shops like Joules and the two above rarely work for me. I'd like to be able to buy things in WS and FF because there are lots of natural fibres, and the prices seem quite reasonable, but, other than one jumper, I haven't ever seen anything I really like in either of them.

I do find quite a lot in M&S, but you have to search through an awful lot of crap to find one or two good things. I generally do my searching online, by fabric, and then go and try on/buy in store.

White Company sales occasionally have some good things - it's astonishingly over-priced when non-sale. I'd like to see them do less navy and more black though!

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 31/07/2016 09:59

Ok. So we had lots of slagging off of these brands - and I'll join in as I hate Primark, H&M, Top Shop and most of Zara, as their fabrics are all syntheticy crumply tat.

What brands DO we like?

Twowrongsdontmakearight · 31/07/2016 10:01

Oops. Posted too soon. I love the things I see in Hobbs etc but I don't have an office job so I'd never get round to wearing them.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/07/2016 10:03

I don't understand the Zara love I see on here a lot. I find it expensive for poor quality, and the stores are really unpleasant to shop in.

OneNightTimeMenaceStrikesBack · 31/07/2016 10:21

I don't think it's true that all Primark stuff is synthetic crumply crap, i've had plenty of natural fibres like wool and cotton from Primark which are still going strong. they even do cashmere in the oxford street branch in the autumn/winter!

anyway, maybe some people like the clothes in fat face or white stuff or any other plae you might deem as selling invisible clothes. not everyone likes bright colours or black and grey. Choice, it's all about personal choice and if they like it, they like it. I'd be so upset if someone judged me for the clothes I like to wear just because they don't like it and wouldn't wear it. I see plenty of people wearing things i never would but it doesn't make me think less of them or think horrible things about them just because they've made a choice i wouldn't

ZenNudist · 31/07/2016 10:23

I wear a lot of joules but their flower print is becoming a bit ubiquitous (not got any... Yet). I think it is due for a backlash. I don't think white stuff or joules makes you invisible.

I like joules for quality but not white stuff. At least they are more cotton/viscose. Next m&s and oasis are all polyester. As is expensive brands like ted baker and mint velvet.

Actually come to think of it mint velvet's MO is greige

KittyKrap · 31/07/2016 10:33

I had a Joe Browns advert thrown in my face on FB so I had a look. It's exactly the same flouncy stuff they were selling 7 years ago. It's a bit 'bonkers mum'. Rather than invisible.

EssentialHummus · 31/07/2016 10:57

Just looked up Joe Browns. It's like an English Desigual, no? It tends towards "mad art teacher".

(I rather like Desigual, but not the collection on at once Grin)